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Srinagar: Cold wave tightened its grip across Kashmir as minimum temperature dropped at most places in the Valley, with Srinagar recording a low of minus 5.5 degree Celsius last night, officials said on Friday.

On Friday—the third day of 40-day-long harshest winter period called ‘Chillai-Kalan’—the Dal Lake in Srinagar and most other water bodies in the Valley were seen partially frozen. “The maximum temperature recorded in Srinagar on Friday was 8.1 degree Celsius while the minimum was minus 5.5 degree Celsius,” a Metrological department official here told Greater Kashmir.

He said Qazigund and Pahalgam froze at minus 4.8 degree Celsius, Kupwara at minus 5.4 degree Celsius, Kokernag at minus 3.3 degree Celsius and Gulmarg at 2.2 degree Celsius.

He however said there was overall improvement in night temperatures in Jammu region.

“Against Thursday’s 5.7 degree Celsius, the lowest night temperature rose to 9 degree Celsius in Jammu on Friday,” he said.

He said weather is likely to remain cloudy and dry in the state during next 24 hours and “this could bring some improvement in night temperatures.”

“There is however possibility of light to moderate rains and snowfall at isolated places across the state,” he said.

Leh was the coldest town in the state at minus 8.2 degrees Celsius.

Meanwhile, Kashmir is facing a major power crisis this winter, with Srinagar city worst-hit where unscheduled power cuts have grown severe over the past one month, giving tough time to people, especially during mornings and evenings.

Reports said some villages too are reeling under darkness as they are supplied with only few hours of power.

Meanwhile, reports said people across Kashmir Friday made special prayers for rains and snowfall.

Kashmir is presently witnessing longest dry spell in a decade.

“Snow during Chillai Kalan freezes and lasts longer. It is this snow that adds to glaciers of Kashmir and replenishes perennial reservoirs that feed rivers, streams and lakes in Kashmir during summer months. Any snowfall after Chillai-Kalan does not last long,” said an official.

In December, the mean number of rainy days in Kashmir is 3.5 while mean maximum temperature is 8.8 degree Celsius and mean minimum temperature is minus 1.6 degree Celsius.

Official data reveals that highest maximum temperature recorded in December is 16.6 degree Celsius, in 2009.

Chillai-Kalan begins from December 21 and ends on January 31 next year. During this period, chances of snowfall are frequent and maximum. Chillai-Kalan is followed by a 20-day long Chillai-Khurd that occurs between January 31 and February 19 and a 10-day long Chillai-Bachha which is from February 20 to March 2.

Geelani censures Akhter for ‘concealing anti-people deeds’

Srinagar: Protests and clashes broke out in various parts of Kashmir on Friday against issuance of “domicile certificates” to non-state subject West Pakistani Refugees residing in Jammu areas, even as Valley’s top separatist leaders strongly reacted to the government’s move and threatened state-wide agitation “if it is not rolled back forthwith.”

The joint resistance leadership—Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Muhammad Yasin Malik—had urged people to stage protests against “settlement” of WPRs in Jammu and Kashmir through issuance of domicile certificates, on Friday. The leaders had also called for a complete strike against the move that has come in from severe criticism from several quarters. The shutdown call evoked a complete response as shops remained shut while traffic remained off the roads.

Reports of protests came in from South, North and Central Kashmir areas.

Witnesses said massive protests and clashes erupted in Nowhatta area of old Srinagar after Friday prayers.  

Earlier, a protest march was led by Hurriyat Conference (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq outside historic Jamia Masjid in the locality.  

Protests and clashes were reported from Batamaloo area also. Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Muhammad Yasin Malik also led a protest march from Dastgeer Sahab (RA) shrine at Sarai Bala here against the “settlement” of WPRs. The police, however, detained Malik and pushed back the protestors, who later dispersed peacefully.

Senior Hurriyat (M) leader Er Hilal Ahmed War was again barred from coming out of his Maisuma residence, a report said. He was supposed to lead a protest march against the domicile status to WPRs.

Reports from north Kashmir said amid complete shutdown in Baramulla district, clashes between protesting youth and police were reported from Sopore area on Friday afternoon. They said clashes broke out this afternoon at main chowk Sopore after scores of people, including family and relatives of a boy who was injured on December 16, took to streets and demanded arrest of forces personnel involved in inflicting serious injury to the boy. Separate protests were staged against issuance of domicile certificates to WPRs. The protest started soon after Friday prayers from Jamia Masjid Sopore. Police lobbed scores of teargas shells to quell the protesting youths, but clashes spread to other areas which include Arampora and New Colony and continued for several hours, reports said.

Meanwhile, in other parts of the district which include Rafiabad, Tangmarg, Pattan and Palhallan, a complete shutdown was observed. All shops were closed and there was thin presence of traffic on roads. A peaceful sit-in was staged at Nadihal where senior Huriyat leader Ghulam Nabi Waseem addressed a public gathering and briefed people about the “moves aimed at changing the demography of the State, including issuance of domicile certificates to WPRs.”

Reports from Bandipora district said protests and clashes erupted in Pazalpora village after Friday congregation prayers against issuance of domicile certificates to WPRs. Youth clashed with forces near BRO office by hurling stones and bricks at them as soon as Friday prayers culminated.

“In retaliation, the forces fired dozens of tear smoke and sound shells to disperse the protestors,” they said. 

Clashes lasted for several hours but there were no reports of any injury to anyone.

Reports said clashes also erupted in Mantrigam, Papchan and Ajar villages.

Meanwhile, a peaceful protest rally was held in Aloosa village amid pro-freedom slogans. It was addressed by local Hurriyat leaders. Similar protest rally was held in Ajas. 

Reports from South Kashmir districts said that protest rallies were witnessed at Qaimoh, Khudwani, Redwani, and Bijbehara. Protest rallies were reported in Pulwama and Shopian also. Reports said all these rallies ended peacefully.

Scores of people took out a protest rally after Friday prayers ended at Khankah Faiz Panah in Tral township of Pulwama district.

The protesters were raising slogans against issuance of domicile certificates TO West Pakistan refugees and a Supreme Court verdict on sovereignty of Jammu and Kashmir. “We cannot tolerate issuance of domicile certificates to West Pakistani refugees,” said a protestor.

Reports from Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district said after Friday prayers, forces were seen deployed outside Jamia Masjids in its main towns including at Ganderbal and Kangan. However, they were withdrawn immediately after culmination of the prayers. There were no reports of protests from any part of the district. Police said the deployment was in place as a precautionary measure.

Reports from Budgam district said mild clashes were reported from Aripanthan and Budran, Magam after Friday prayers.

The Hurriyat Conference (G) chairman Syed Ali Geelani, who continues to be under detention, was on Friday again barred by police from offering Friday prayers. In a statement, a Hurriyat (G) spokesman said: “This undemocratic and unethical practice (of barring Geelani from Friday prayers) has become a routine and despite protesting against such gross rights violations, the government seems to be numb and such a maneuvering has been a statecraft by every Delhi-installed government irrespective of its name and fame.”

Reacting to Education Minister Naeem Akhtar’s statement on issuance of controversial domicile certificates to West Pakistan Refugees, the spokesman said: “After deceitful and anti-people blunders, the so-called educated minister most shamelessly surfaces to offer clarifications and explanations. Doesn’t issuing domicile certificate makes one eligible for other incentives and if not, then why these refugees are in Jammu and Kashmir and in what capacity? Can the minister educate us as to what does identity certificate mean and what information is needed to compile it? Every time this vocal minister tries to put a lid on foul and filthy deeds of his bosses. It seems he has been assigned this task to conceal the heinous anti-people crimes in the vocabulary of gimmicks.”

“These yes-men have shredded off the last coat of their worth and dignity to justify and legitimize backdoor robbery of these political dacoits and they willfully act as statues to these destructive measures. SARFAESI Act is a well-knit conspiracy to strangulate us economically and what their Parliament could not dare to do, their judiciary has done it, using the blood soaked hands of these collaborators,” the Hurriyat spokesman said.

He added: “New Delhi uses all its weapons in its armory—government, political, parliament, and now judicial—to muzzle and cripple us so that we become a cannon fodder for their ghosts to engulf. When the deceitful political maneuvering backfires, the so-called mouthpieces of this treason wrap it in the veil of so-called misinterpretation and bury it under callous and mean debris of so-called conspiracy to create unrest to topple its government.”

“Delhi-groomed politicians and India-crowned ‘sultans’ of our ill-fated land have been using these deceptions for the last seven decades to appease their crowning authorities but their power lust and greed seems to have no end,” the spokesman said, adding: “The Hurriyat once again reminds the people that with each passing day our rights, honour and dignity is being snatched away and we need to fight it collectively to safeguard and ensure our existence.”

A deliberate attempt is being made to change J&K’s demography by issuing domicile certificates to West Pakistan refugees, the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front Chairman Muhammad Yasin Malik said on Friday, asserting that he “won’t mind” spilling his blood to “sabotage the PDP-BJP government’s move.”

Malik, who had gone into hiding late on Thursday evening, spent the night at an unknown location around Lal Chowk and surfaced at revered shrine of Dastgeer Sahab (RA) at Saraibala here on Friday along with dozens of his supporters and JKLF activists.

Soon after culmination of congregational Friday prayers, Malik led a huge protest march against issuance of domicile certificates to non-state subject WPRs by the PDP-led government. The protestors raised pro-freedom and anti-government slogans.

There was, however, heavy deployment of police who geared up to detain Malik to prevent protestors from proceeding towards Lal Chowk.

Talking to reporters before being detained, Malik said in J&K, the State Subject Law has been in vogue since Maharaja Hari Singh’s time. “It’s because our state is rich in water resources and has a vast forestland that the State Subject Law was enacted to ensure no outsider buys a property here to settle down,” he said.

“Ever since the PDP-BJP government took the reins of the State, one or the other issue is being raked up to create confusion and push the majority to the wall,” he said. “First the government triggered controversy by raking up issues like separate colonies for Kashmiri Pandits, then exclusive colonies for retired soldiers and now (is) again issuing domicile certificates to refugees.”

Malik said he won’t hesitate to spill his blood to protect the State Subject Law. “We will not allow any move aimed at changing the demography of the State. We will oppose all such moves tooth and nail,” he said. “Kashmiri people can never be mute spectators on such moves. There will always be a tough resistance to defeat such designs.”

He said such moves were hatched to change the “disputed nature of J&K and its Muslim majority character too.” 

The JKLF chief slammed recent remarks of J&K BJP chief Sat Sharma wherein he had stated that issuing domicile certificates was a first step towards “settlement of West Pakistan refugees and that they will be given citizenship rights and later the voting rights too.”

“This is purely RSS plan and now with the help of BJP and PDP, they are trying to implement their plans in J&K. But this time, people are more intelligent and wise and will defeat all such moves,” he said.

Malik also termed the recent verdict of court where in J&K’s sovereignty was challenged as “a well planned conspiracy” against Kashmiri people. “At times J&K’s sovereign character is challenged and at times, various banks in India are allowed to confiscate properties,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Front chief was lodged at Police station Shaheed Gunj, a Front spokesman said.

Chairman of Hurriyat Conference (M) Mirwaiz Umar Farooq on Friday threatened to launch an agitation if the ruling PDP-BJP government goes ahead with issuing domicile certificates to West Pakistan Refugees living in Jammu region. He said the move to settle refugees in J&K is aimed at “changing” the demography of Kashmir.

Addressing a Friday gathering at historic Majia Masjid here, Mirwaiz said settlement of West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs) is a well-planned conspiracy to change the disputed nature of Kashmir issue.

“The plan to settle refugees has been conceived by the RSS and now with the support of PDP and BJP government, they want to see it as a reality. We will not allow any move which is aimed at changing the Muslim majority character of the State,” he said.

Mirwaiz said people of Kashmir will defeat all such moves tooth and nail. “If government doesn’t come clean on the issue, we won’t hesitate in launching a state-wide agitation and entire responsibility will lie on the government,” he said.

He said thousands of Kashmiris have been killed in the past 26 years and hundreds are “facing worst kind of oppression” with no remorse from the government. “Now all of a sudden hearts of rulers who are responsible for bloodshed in Kashmir are feeling the pain of refugees. This sounds a mockery and a big joke,” the Mirwaiz said. “Those who blinded hundreds of youth with deadly pellets claim to be the champions of addressing problems of refugees. In real sense, settlement of WPRs is a well conceived plot of RSS-backed PDP and BJP to slowly change J&K’s demography.”

After the culmination of Friday prayers, Mirwaiz led a massive protest march outside Jamia Masjid and raised slogans including ‘We want freedom and Ye mulq hamara hai, iska faisla hum karengay (This nation is ours, we will decide its fate).”

Mirwaiz himself held a placard which read: “No domicile for WPRs, stop dictatorship.”

Addressing the gathering outside the grand mosque, Mirwaiz said challenging the sovereignty of Kashmir by the courts and the tacit support of the J&K government in the SARFAESI Act case is “actually aimed at allowing India’s financial institutions to seize the immovable properties of Kashmiris.”

“The plan is to seize our property and to sell the same to non-state residents to ensure Kashmiris are thrown out of their own land. For this, RSS with the active support from PDP and BJP is taking the judiciary route,” he said. “All kinds of efforts— overt and covert are being made towards the goal of assimilation.”

Mirwaiz asked the government to immediately announce the rollback of issuing domicile certificates to WPRs or else face the agitation.

PREVENTED TO REACH JAMIA ON FRIDAYS: OLD CITY RESIDENTS

Meanwhile, residents of various old Srinagar areas on Friday alleged that heavy deployment of forces around Jamia Masjid every Friday is aimed to prevent them from reaching the grand masjid to offer congregational prayers.

“We see forces standing on main roads leading to Jamia on all Fridays. At some places, barbed wire is also placed on roads to restrict movement of people. I along with my friend were heading towards Jamia, but were pushed back by the forces,” said Zubair Ahmed, a resident of Nowshehra area.

Many elderly people also echoed similar views. “For the past few Fridays, forces are preventing people including youth from reaching Jamia Masjid,” said elderly persons at Nowhatta said. “Today, there were only four rows of people at Jamia Masjid. Otherwise, we would witness at least 15 rows on Fridays.”

Hurriyat Conference (M) spokesman Advocate Shahid-ul-Islam while condemning the curbs in old city areas said the government authorities are indulging in direct interference in religious affairs of people.

“For the past many Fridays, worshipers including youth are pushed back and not allowed to reach Jamia Masjid. This highhandedness is intolerable,” he said.

Srinagar: To compensate for the losses suffered in the unrest, the University of Kashmir and the Islamic University of Science and Technology (IUST) have decided not to close down for the winter vacation this year.A total of 130 days of regular classes were lost due to the unrest which began on July 9. Dean, Academic Affairs, University of Kashmir, Muhammad Ashraf said the decision had been taken in the interest of the students who had lost precious time in the last five months.“Even though we lost five months of summer in the unrest, we are trying that there should be no impact on the academic calendar. That is why we have cancelled the winter vacation,” said the Dean, Academic Affairs.Vice Chancellor of the University of Kashmir Prof Khursheed Andrabi said the first semester exam of the postgraduate courses was underway and the classes would start immediately after the exams end.“When the unrest started in July, the exams of the second semester were going on and the first semester had just begun. We uploaded the e-tutorials for the students so that they could benefit from them. By March, the exams will be over and the admissions to the new batches will start as scheduled. There will be no delay in the academic calendar. We will compensate for the losses in the winter months,” Andrabi said.The IUST in Awantipora has also decided to cancel the winter break this year and hold extra classes.The Central University of Kashmir (CUK) Vice Chancellor, however, said they had not decided about the winter break yet.“We will continue regular classes till the weather allows. There has been no decision on the winter break yet,” said Vice Chancellor, CUK, Prof Mehraj Bhat. The IUST has also cancelled the weekend offs and other holidays to hold extra classes for the students.“We work for six days so that the students can cover maximum syllabus,” said Vice Chancellor, IUST, Mushtaq Siddiqui. (TNS)

Srinagar: Kashmir Valley has been facing a major power crisis. Srinagar city is the worst hit as reports from different areas said the unscheduled power cuts have grown severe for the past one month, giving tough time to people, especially during morning and evening hours. There are scores of areas where people have not seen their bulb getting lit from past week.

From past many days locals from different areas of Srinagar city have informed CNS that Power Development Department is not only resorting to unscheduled cuts but did not at all bother to supply electricity for days together. Reports said that the non-availability of electricity in areas like Jawahar Nagar, Ikhraj Pora, Mehjoor Nagar, Padshahi Bagh, Natipora, Rambagh, Sonawar, Rajbagh, Shivpora, Chanapora, Solina, Batamaloo, Hyderpora and almost all the localities of old Srinagar city have been irking people while at many places locals said that they are mulling to stage massive protests against PDD.   

Residents of Mehjoor Nagar said that every day people find themselves in complete darkness. “From last four days, the electricity is nowhere in sight. We have been paying our bills in time and still not getting the electricity,” Ishtiyaq Ahmed a resident said.

Same complaints poured in from people from different towns and district headquarters. People in both South and North Kashmir are up in arms against the Power Development Department.

People complained the situation is alike in both metered and non-metered areas. “From past one month, the authorities have been resorting to distress power cuts in our locality. It is highly unfortunate that the PDD doesn’t ensure regular power supply,” said Muneeb Ahmed of Kadipora area in South Kashmir’s Islamabad district adding that they fail to understand why the authorities are not sticking to any schedule.

In South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, people are up in arms against the Power Development Department (PDD) for its “failure” to provide uninterrupted power supply to its areas since last week.

“There has been no let up in the situation,” a delegation from different villages including Reidwani, Qaimou, Bogam and Khudwani said.      

The electricity shortage has also hit traders and those affiliated with the Industrial sector.

“The way PDD is acting makes it clear that in coming days Kashmir valley will witness frequent protests against Power Development Department,” a trader Ajaz Ahmed said.

Chief Engineer Power Development Department could not be contacted; however, a higher official of the department admitted that the power supply remained affected from past one month. “It happens in every winter and you know better than me why we suffer on this front,” he said.(CNS)

Jammu: It was a double whammy for the traders and industrialists in Jammu and Kashmir this year. They were first hit badly by the unrest and then by the demonetisation.This year has been rated as one of the worst years for the traders and industrialists of the state as the business has come down by more than 50 per cent.The decline in trade is likely to create long-term effects on the economy of the militancy-infested state, say experts.“Though the global business was down throughout the year, Jammu and Kashmir suffered more in 2016 as far as the trade is concerned,” said Rakesh Gupta, president, Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI), Jammu.“The four months of the Kashmir unrest had already put the traders in debt, but the demonetisation wiped out all their hopes for a better business at the year-end,” he added.The CCI president believes that the introduction of goods and sales tax will also slow down the business for another 4-5 months as it will take the business community some more time to understand the new taxation system.The Federation of Industries (FOI), Jammu and Kashmir, also termed it the worst year for the industrialists and the traders of the state.“The unrest in Kashmir and demonetisation have affected the business and production in Jammu and Kashmir. The business has come down by more than 50 per cent,” said Anil Suri, chairman, FOI.“We have been facing loses due to the agitations and unrests in Jammu and Kashmir for more than two decades, but it had never crossed 50 per cent, not even during the Amarnath land row in 2008. This time, demonetisation has doubled the negative effect on business. It will give benefit in future, but this year was the worst year for the business community,” he added.From industrialists to small shopkeepers, everyone has been affected by the unrest and demonetisation.The retail outlet sale has also gone down by 50 per cent as people seem to be focusing on necessities only. (TNS)

Srinagar: Former Chief Minister and National Conference working President Omar Abdullah has said the “hardline strategy” followed by the PDP-BJP Government in Kashmir was a pick from a plan that was suggested by National Security Advisor AjitDoval way back in 2010.

“If you see how (Chief Minister) Mehbooba Mufti dealt with the situation in these months, she is exactly following Doval doctrine,” said Omar in an exclusive chat with Greater Kashmir at his Gupkar residence here. “Every action of her, whether to deal with the separatists or protestors, is part of the Doval doctrine.”

During the uprising this summer that was triggered by killing of Hizb Commander BurhanMuzaffarWani by security forces on July 8, at least 96 civilians were killed and over 15000 were injured including over 1200 youth who lost their eyes to deadly pellets. 

While Kashmir witnessed months of protests in support of “azadi” with a renewed call by resistance camp as well as opposition parties for initiation of talks to resolve Kashmir, the government of India has refused to engage separatists directly or start dialogue at the external level to resolve Kashmir.

“Every word and every letter that he (Doval) spoke about at a function (in Hyderabad) on dealing with Kashmir is being implemented by Mehbooba Mufti,” said Omar.

Speaking about the protests at a seminar in Hyderabad in October 2010, Doval had told policymakers “not to overreact and give in”.

“The crisis will pass off. It looks big in the midst of it, they cannot sustain it beyond a point and even if they do there is a price they have to pay,” Doval had said.

Omar accused the Chief Minister of being hand in glove with New Delhi to execute the strategy in Kashmir which he said was fraught with dangers.

“We all know what Mehbooba Mufti used to say during her poll campaign. But now she is no different from BJP and RSS and in fact she is following their policy on Kashmir,” said Omar.

Stating that the increase in the number of local youth joining militancy in Kashmir was a concern, Omar attributed the phenomena to PDP joining hands with BJP in J&K to form the government.

“In none of our security review meetings (during my tenure) did we ever discuss BurhanWani. His name never came up for discussion,” said Omar. “It was after 2014 that local youth started joining militancy and today we have reached a situation that our youth are again picking up gun,” said Omar.

During the middle of uprising in Kashmir Omar led a delegation of members from opposition parties to Prime Minister NarendraModi and President Pranab Mukherjee seeking New Delhi should initiate political process on Kashmir after separatists had refused to meet a parliamentary delegation led by Union Home Ministry Rajnath Singh.

Underscoring the need for addressing both internal and external dimensions of Kashmir issue, Omar said even when India has in Simla agreement accepted role of Pakistan and the government of India in the past talked to separatists, “lack of a political initiative on part of the center is a concern.”

Omar refused to draw similarity in response by Government of India to 2010 uprising and the recent five month long uprising in Kashmir following killing of Burhan.

During 2010, Omar said, New Delhi appointed interlocutor’s team that came up with a detailed report on how to move forward on Kashmir resolution. “Unfortunately there was no follow up on the report by the center, but that is completely a separate issue. This time however there has been no response from both State as well as the center. This is a concern,” Omar said.

To a question that the recent utterances by National Conference leadership including its President Dr Farooq Abdullah were seen as a strategy by the party to prepare ground for the upcoming local bodies’ polls and elections to two parliament seats in Kashmir, Omar said his party was consistent about the demand for engaging separatists as well as Pakistan for lasting solution to Kashmir.

“This isn’t something that we are demanding now. Even during my tenure I had made it clear in front of (then) Prime Minister that economic packages were not going to resolve Kashmir and the need was for a political initiative. The center can’t ignore the external as well as internal dimensions of Kashmir to resolve the issue,” said Omar.

He said the PDP led State Government was afraid of holding elections this time “knowing well” that people would reject them.

Omar said in 2014 when National Conference had favored rehabilitation of flood hit people to elections, the PDP pushed for polls to serve its political interests.

“Today they are also following the strategy that would suit their interests,” said Omar.

He refused to disclose whether Farooq Abdullah would contests from Srinagar-Budgam Parliamentary seat which had fallen vacant after the resignation of the former PDP member Tariq Hamid Karra from LokSabha.

“We had some private conversations about the polls. But the National Conference Parliamentary Board is yet to take a call on the candidature for both seats,” said Omar. The other seat is Anantnag-Pulwama LS constituency that is lying vacant after elections of Mehbooba Mufti to State Legislature earlier this year.

‘Continue to be non-state subjects; are issued Identity Certificates’

Srinagar: Discounting the “false and contrived impression” being created regarding the change of status of the West Pakistan Refugees (WPR), the Government today made it clear that such reports are deliberately being circulated to destabilize the situation and hit the political and economic interests of the people.

“It seems an orchestrated and misleading campaign has been launched to create an impression that the Government is changing the status of the WPR and they are being provided domicile certificates,” Minister for Education and State Government spokesman, Naeem Akhtar said in a statement.

Akhtar said the refugees who were settled in Jammu and Kashmir in the aftermath of the partition of the subcontinent, included those from PaK and West Pakistan. “While the refugees from PaK have the status of the permanent residents of the State, those from West Pakistan are not entitled to permanent residence as they are not the domiciles of Jammu and Kashmir,” he said and added that given their present status, “the West Pakistan refugees are entitled to vote in the Parliamentary elections, but can’t exercise their franchise in the state assembly polls.”

He said as the WP refugees can’t apply for any job within the State because of being non-state subjects, to facilitate them to get jobs in paramilitary forces and other central government establishments, the Government has issued them “Identity Certificates which are in the same format as existing in the voter list for the Parliamentary polls.”

“Issuance of Identity Certificates does in no way change the status of the West Pakistan Refugees and they continue to be the non-state subjects,” he said.

 “Now when the situation has started improving in Kashmir with academic, tourism, developmental and economic activities slowly picking up again, unfortunately speculative reports are being passed around about the change of status of the WPRs to create confusion and once again fuel disquiet,” he said and urged the people not to give credence to such “unsubstantiated and disingenuous reports.”

SOME PEOPLE CREATING FUSS FOR NOTHING: BJP

BJP General Secretary (organization), Ashok Koul Thursday said there is no proposal of issuing domicile certificates to the West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs).

“Some people are creating unnecessary fuss over nothing. The WPRs are not be given any domicile certificates, but they are being issued identification certificates,” he told KNS.

Asked to explain the difference in identification and domicile certificates, Koul clarified that the WPRs are applying for jobs in paramilitary forces, since they have been living here for decades now, so they need a certificate for it.

“The concerned tehsildars will be issuing identification certificates to them after proper identification by concerned Numberdars. There is no case of domicile certificates. How can they be given domicile certificates when they aren’t the State subjects of this State,” Koul told KNS.

He said some people are creating unnecessary uproar over the issue the same way as they created over Sainik colony. “We weren’t going to settle non-state subject sainiks in those colonies,” he added.   KNS

Srinagar: As under the UJALA scheme launched in the state, light-emitting diode (LED) lamps are being distributed among people in Jammu and Kashmir; an American study has stated that such LEDs can adversely impact human health.
The JK Government has launched UJALA scheme under which consumers can purchase up to 5 LED bulbs at a rate of Rs. 20 each bulb by showing their electricity bill or the identity cards.
The basic aim according to government was to provide easy and efficient light energy to every household therefore. The scheme is expected to bring the electricity bill down for the consumers and saves the electricity for the state & for the nation as well.
But what is worrying that its light could have adverse impact on health.
According to a report released by the American Medical Association (AMA) Council on Science and Public Health after looking at LED street lighting on US roadways found that blue light it emits can be “harmful”. “The human eye perceives the large amount of blue light emitted by LEDs as white. Blue light directly affects sleep by suppressing the production of the hormone melatonin, which mediates the sleep-wake cycle in humans,” the study says.
The study has assumed significance in J&K as government launched the scheme which the power development department will distribute 80 lakh LED bulbs in the state which will help to reduce peak demand in the state by about 250 MW and will save energy consumption by 260 mKWh translating into an annual saving of about Rs 130 crore.
LEDs are semiconductors that make old-fashioned light bulbs (incandescent) and even energy savers (compact fluorescents) look incredibly inefficient.
The US report says that compared with conventional street lighting, the blue-rich white LED is five times more disruptive to sleep cycle. It has suggested that a long-term increase in the risk for cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and obesity caused by chronic sleep disruption due to exposure to blue light. “The excessive blue wavelength contributes to glare effects as a result of larger scattering in the human eye.”
Contrary to the popular notion that bright LED lighting increases road safety, the report says discomfort and disability glare caused by unshielded, bright LED lighting negatively impacts visual acuity, thus “decreasing safety and creating road hazards”.

Early Times Report